Predicting Millwall FC's 2 next big money departures ft Crystal Palace target | OneFootball

Football League World takes a look at two Millwall players who could net the players significant transfer fees

Just like the vast majority of clubs across the Championship who are unable to call upon parachute payments or significant ownership backing, Millwall will hope that they can pocket an additional influx from player sales.

Without exceptional financial luxuries, recruiting in high potential at a low or relative cost with the intention of collecting sizable profit and developing internal youth talent is often the way to go for second-tier sides.

At its best, this can be a shrewd, smart and highly-effective modus operandi. Millwall have every chance of enjoying the fruits of their labour in the years to come, having signed and nurtured young talent as of late.

During the recent summer transfer window, five of the ten signings made by Neil Harris were aged 23 or under. While two of those transfers were loan deals - namely Josh Coburn from Championship rivals Middlesbrough and Liverpool’s highly-rated teen left-back Callum Scanlon - their recruitment is nonetheless indicative of trust in young players.

With that in mind, Football League World has decided to take a look at the two Millwall players who could be next in line to bring some serious cash to The Den...

Romain Esse

There can be no prizes for predicting Esse’s inclusion here - the 19-year-old looks every bit a star in the making and is already beginning to attract the attention of Premier League clubs.

A graduate of the Lions’ academy system, Esse has long been held in a strong regard at the club. He made 13 appearances in the Championship at the age of 17 back in the 2022/23 campaign before scoring his first two goals for Millwall the following season.

This season, the winger has already added two more strikes to his stat-line after being rewarded with a “multi-year contract” back in the summer, which will enable Millwall to drive a hard bargain and negotiate the fee on their own terms when the time comes.

However, that has done precious little to deter suitors. According to a recent report from Alan Nixon - via his exclusive Patreon service - Crystal Palace are keeping tabs on Esse, and it is believed that Eagles sporting director Dougie Freedman was in attendance for Millwall’s recent 1-0 home defeat to Luton Town.

Meanwhile, ex-Lions boss Gary Rowett has predicted that more Premier League clubs will be pursuing an interest in the gifted attacker. That would be no surprise, of course, although Palace’s interest certainly stacks up given that they have previously poached talent from the Championship.

Femi Azeez

Millwall will not necessarily be looking to sell Azeez anytime soon. The 23-year-old winger joined in the summer from League One outfit Reading for a fee reported to be in the region of £1 million - and that is a figure which they could certainly collect profit on further down the line.

Azeez is yet to get going in the Championship but it would be unwise to bet against him making the step-up before long. He made a strong impression in the third-tier for a struggling side last season, scoring eight goals and making a further nine assists from the right flank.

Should he translate that output to the Championship, then, his ceiling will surely prove to be higher than Millwall